Jorge Ramos, a well-known anchor for Fusion TV and Univision, was abruptly escorted out of an August 25 press conference held by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after attempting to ask a question about the controversial billionaire’s harsh immigration stance.

Ramos was shut down before he had a chance to finish asking a pivotal question concerning Trump’s recent contention that if elected he’d deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. The scene was cringe worthy, to say the least, but also incredibly illuminating. Over the course of a few seconds, Trump emblematized an unspoken tenet of his campaign platform: a fundamental aversion to meaningfully addressing any important issue facing this country.

Since announcing his run for the nation’s highest office, Trump has been no stranger to courting media attention through brash jabs, controversial Twitter posts, and downright offensive comments about women, immigrants, and Asian business leaders (just to name a few).

The August 6 Republican presidential debate clearly saw Trump outshine his nine opponents. When it came to making controversial quips and undignified remarks, he lived up to his reputation for being incredibly callous, dismissive and evasive. [pullquote]Since announcing his run for the nation’s highest office, Trump has been no stranger to courting media attention through brash jabs, controversial Twitter posts, and downright offensive comments about women, immigrants, and Asian business leaders (just to name a few).[/pullquote]

What about those infamous bankruptcies? They’re nothing compared to his hundreds of other successful deals. And those nasty comments about women? The country is too politically correct, something The Donald has no time for.

I took the liberty of perusing Trump’s campaign website and the few minutes I spent on it affirmed my initial impressions of the man: all veneer, no substance. What’s his campaign platform? Immigration reform. He summed up his immigration policy in two vague sentences that added nothing substantial to his candidacy.

For the record, people like Donald Trump don’t keep me up at night. The world will always be filled with sexist, racist, and vain rich white men who find pleasure in subjugating others. What gnaws at me is one unsettling fact: there are people in this country who not only believe in what he’s saying, but prefer that the leader of this nation be a misguided simpleton with no policy-making experience.

He’s been consistently leading the polls and overshadowing the other Republican candidates. According to a Quinnipiac University Poll released on August 27, (http://goo.gl/f6FzYC) Trump was leading the pack by 28 percent, up from 20 percent in a poll conducted by QU in late July. [pullquote]What gnaws at me is one unsettling fact: there are people in this country who not only believe in what he’s saying, but prefer that the leader of this nation be a misguided simpleton with no policy-making experience.[/pullquote]

Let’s not kids ourselves. We’re talking about a man who’s accused immigrants of being rapists and murderers, has no qualms flaunting his misogyny, and is no friend to the LGBTQ community, saying publicly that he favors “traditional” marriage over equal marriage rights for same-sex couples (let us not forget that he’s on his third).

What about global warming and climate change, more stringent gun control laws, a responsible way to address the country’s immigration system, the minimum wage, ISIS, equal pay standards, social safety net services, and economic equality? I’d be remiss not to mention the toxic racial dynamics we’re seeing, from deadly policing practices to frightening systemic racism in our schools, prisons and other institutions.

What has he given us? Short, memorable and moronic sound bites about building a wall in the southern part of the United States, deranged comments about his desire for docile women, brainless jokes insulting Asian business leaders, and attacks on anyone who opposes him. [pullquote]Let’s not kids ourselves. We’re talking about a man who’s accused immigrants of being rapists and murderers, has no qualms flaunting his misogyny, and is no friend to the LGBTQ community, saying publicly that he favors “traditional” marriage over equal marriage rights for same-sex couples (let us not forget that he’s on his third).[/pullquote]

What about the LGBTQ community? Nearly 20 transgender women have been murdered this year (the majority being women of color) and several states have inadequate non-discrimination laws governing fair employment, housing, and business practices. These problems are rooted in individual states, but the President can set the tone for showing compassion and fairness when dealing with the rampant abuse of LGBTQ people.

The fact that there are American voters who look at this man’s antics and see a viable candidate worries me, and should worry all of us. To confuse Trump’s blunt, superficial and politically incorrect nature with the desired temperament of the nation’s next president is not only disconcerting, but illustrates that there are people who share his backwards, lopsided views that prioritize ignorance over accountability and progress.

If running for President is an extensive job interview, ousting Ramos from that press conference in Iowa sent a clear message to the nation about how Trump views the position he’s applying for. My sense is that his campaign will lose steam and the more serious candidates for the Republican nomination will come to the front of the pack. None of the candidates seeking the Republican nomination are allies or champions for progress and equality. Neither are the people who will staunchly support them. [pullquote]To confuse Trump’s blunt, superficial and politically incorrect nature with the desired temperament of the nation’s next president is not only disconcerting, but illustrates that there are people who share his backwards, lopsided views that prioritize ignorance over accountability and progress.[/pullquote]

However, Trump’s popularity and steady uptick in the polls only shows that there are still people in this country who lack the values we need to pull ourselves out of the international embarrassment this country has experienced when it comes to social progress.

This out-of-touch real estate titan has made plenty of memorable and jaw-dropping claims. But what’s behind those comments? A narcissistic and sadly regressive man running for an office that he will not use to serve the American people, but instead boost his already out-of-control ego.

*A graduate of the Boston University College of Communication, Mike Givens has been a social justice advocate for more than seven years. During that time he’s worked on a range of initiatives aimed at lifting up marginalized populations. An experienced media strategist and public relations professional, Michael currently devotes his spare timetime to a number of vital issues including racial justice and socioeconomic equity.